Pulley holddown



Oct. 6, 1964 D. R. FALKENBERG 3,151,857

PULLEY HOLDDOWN Filed Oct. 5, 1962 l, ll"

INVENTOR. l4 DoueLnss E. FALKENBERG BY M, M *W ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,151,257 FULLEY HQLBDQWN Bouglass Falkenherg,20927 Westlalre Road, Rocky River, Ohio Filed Oct. 5, 1962, Ser. No.228,6il? 9 Claims. (Cl. 267-71) This invention relates, as indicated, toa pulley holddown for use particularly with endless drapery cords, andadapted to maintain under tension the control loop of draw-draperies.More particularly, this invention relates to an adjustable pulley-typedrapery cord holddown, the cord being operatively disposed in the grooveof the pulley.

In the installation of draperies, particularly those designed to coverwindows or wall surfaces of considerable horizontal dimension, it hasbecome common practice to utilize an endless drapery pull cord. Such acord avoids the problem of excess cord randomly coiling on the floorwhich is unsightly. Moreover, the gripping portion of the cord is alwayspresented to the operator at a convenient place instead of near theupper margin of the window or wall surface, for example. Unless thecontrol loop of an endless cord is maintained under tension and in anuntwisted condition, operation of the drape becomes increasinglydifrlcult with the result that the support means or brackets areloosened and undue wear of the cord is promoted.

Holddowns designed to apply tension to the drapery operating loop havebeen produced heretofore including means to resist twisting of the cordand the attendant operat ng difiiculty. The present invention providesan improved and simplified structure for a pulley tensioning device orholddown including means for setting the pulley in a predetermined planefor guiding the cord and resisting displacement, as by twisting, out ofsuch plane.

Briefly stated, then, the present invention is in the provision of animproved pulley holddown or anchoring assembly. This assembly includesan abutment member having an aperture therein and an elongated pulleycarrier extending therethrough and rotatable therein. Resilient means,such as a coil Spring, are provided which coact compressively betweenthe inserted extremity of the pulley carrier and the apertured wall ofthe abutment to urge the carrier into retracted position within theabutment. A plurality of cam surfaces on the adjacent wall of theabutment form key ways disposed in circumferentially spaced relationabout the aperture to provide an indexing guide for the carrier. Theresilient means has an integral portion forming a key which is adaptedto extend into resilient coacting engagement with the key ways on theabutment wall to normally restrain rotation of the pulley carrier andthus releasably secure the carrier in preselected rotated positions. Anadded feature of this inven tion is the provision of an improved closurefor a cord receiving space on the pulley carrier and includes animproved arrangement for releasably securing the closure in closedposition.

The present invention will be better understood by having reference tothe annexed drawings wherein there is illustrated a preferred embodimentof the present invention, and wherein FIG. 1 is a front elevation,partially in section, of a pulley holddown in accordance herewith.

FIG. 2 is an axial cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top elevation of the spring shown in FIG. 5, and showing thedetail of the cam rider which is integral therewith.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the spring which coacts in f ce thedevices of the present invention to maintain the op erating cord undertension.

FIG. 6 is a top elevation of a nut for holding this spring in positionon a pulley carrier.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of the inside face of a pivotedclosure for the cord receiving opening on the pulley carrier.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is here shownan abutment in the form of an elongated tubular member 1t) pivotallysecured at its lower extremity, generally indicated at 11, to a pedestal12 which is adapted to be secured to a wall or floor, or other suchrigid support. Pedestal 12 is provided with a relatively thin webportion 13 having at its lower marginal edge a flange 14- which isadapted to be secured as by screws, for example to the main supportbody, e.g. a wall or a floor. The upper end of web 13 is provided witha. hub 15 adapted to be disposed within the tubular body 1% and securedtherein for rotation by pin 16 which extends through the hub 15 and thewalls of tube 10. Tube 10 is provided with slots 17 and 18 diametricallyopposed to each other and adapted to permit passage of the web 13therethrough to allow for angular disposition of the pedestal 12 withrespect to the tube 10.

The upper extremity of tube 14), as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is providedwith a flange 2t? forming an abutment having an aperture 21therethrough. Aperture 21 and flange 29 form, therefore, a radiallyinwardly directed an nulus which serves as a stop for one end of aspring member 22 to be hereinafter described in greater detail. Thelength of the tubular member 10 is not critical, and may be convenientlya tube 4" to 5" long by 0.75 0D.

A pulley carrier 23 extends through the aperture 21, and has secured toits outer extremity a pulley-block assembly generally indicated at 24through which the drapery operating cord 25 is threaded. The oppositeextremity of pulley carrier 23 is provided with suitable means againstwhich the spring 22 may be biased such as, for example, expansiblylocking washer 26 (FIG. 6) engaged by notches 27 and 28, and resting onlands 29, 3t) and 31, respectively, which define a pointed tip ofcarrier rod 23.

As indicated above, spring 22 is biased against the washer 26 at one endand against the flange 20 at the other end, operating resiliently incompression therebetween and tending to urge the carrier stem 23downwardly through the aperture 21.

FIG. 3 is a view taken on the plane indicated by the lines 33 of FIG. 1and in the direction indicated by the arrows. As shown, the inner wallof tube 10 has cam surfaces forming axially extending key-way grooves 32which are disposed in circumferentially spaced relation about theaperture 21, and provide an indexing guide for the pulley carrier 23. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 3, there are four key-way grooves 32disposed at intervals about the circumference of the inner wall of tube19.

Also shown in FIG. 3, one end of spring 22 forms an integral key 35which is adapted to extend into resilient coacting engagement with thekey ways 32 between the raised cam surfaces to normally restrainrotation of the pulley carrier 23 and thus releasably secure the carrierat preselected positions. The key portion 35 is generally of J -shape toconform with and engage the cross-sectional configuration of the pulleycarrier 23. Thus, when the pulley carrier 23 is rotated, the key 35 isforced to ride over the raised cam surfaces and into selectiveengagement with one of the key way grooves. This eifects a new indexingof the rotated position of the pulley carrier 23 with respect to thebase pedestal 12, for example.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show respectively an end view and an elevation of spring22 to more clearly illustrate the integral ensues? i9 key 35, as abovedescribed. The lower extremity of the spring 22 may also he contoured insuch fashion as to come into gripping relationship with the pulleycarrier 23 to aid in applying torque to the spring 22 on rotating thecarrier 23, thereby facilitating the action of the key 35 in overridingthe cam surfaces between the key way grooves 32. However, it has beenfound from actual experience that this is not necessary, the requiredtorque being transmited to the key 35 through the portion 37 adaptedto-be disposed adjacent one of the surfaces of the carrier 23.

in the embodiment shown in the annexed drawings, it will be observedthat the fluted extremity of the carrier 23 desirably includes onlythree lands 29, 3-9 and 31. By leaving the fourth quadrant free ofprojections, the portion 3'7 of spring 22, and the short return portion33 of key 35 are so proportioned and disposed as to permit easyinsertion of the carrier body into the spring 22 without interferencefrom the lands 2?, 3t) and 31. Thus, the por tion 37 will pass along theside of carrier 23 opposite to land Ell, and the return portion 38completing the J-shape for the key 35 is short enough not to interferewith the terminal structure of carrier 23.

While any suitable pulley-block structure may be associated with pulleycarrier 23, the structure shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 is a preferredembodiment. When the device of the present invention is formed from arelatively stifif plastic material such as filled nylon or polyethylene,the pulley block assembly 23 may be conveniently cast in a single piece,integral with the pulley carrier 23, as best shown in FIG. 2.Accordingly, the upper end of pulley carrier 23 is provided with alaterally extending web portion 4-6 which in turn is convenientlyprovided with a transverse integral rib portion 41 which forms a stop.The web portion 413 is extended to form a pulley block side wall 42having integrally cast therewith pulley axle 43 normal to the plane ofthe side wall 42. The outer extremity of side wall 42 is formed toprovide a bridging portion 44 for the reversely extending portion 45which forms the opposite pulley block side wall. Bridging portion 44 isconveniently provided with a notch 46 to reduce the resistance toreverse bending in a direction away from side wall 42 for the purpose ofpermitting the hub 47 of pulley 48 to be put in proper position on axle43 for rotation thereabout.

Side wall 45 is conveniently provided with a bearing portion 49 throughwhich axle ,43 extends. In order to secure side wall 45 to axle 43, anenlarged head portion 54) having a diameter slightly larger than thejournal diameter may be formed on the axle. Because of the resilientnature of the plastic material, the head 59 may be forced through thebearing 49. Head 50 in combination with the lateral extension of hub 47coacts to retain side wall 45 in proper position.

The reversely extending portion of the pulley carrier which formssidewall 45 has a free extremity which is spaced from the main stem ofpulley carrier 23 to provide operating cord access to the pulley 48. Asbest shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 7, a protective closure plate 51 ispivotally mounted on a pin 52 which is integrally cast in the sidewall45 in spaced parallel relation from the sheave axle 43. When in closedposition, the closure plate 51 closes the operating cord access spaceand confines the cord in the pulley block assembly. The provision andlocation of pivot pin 52 avoids interference with the pulley axle 43 andprovides increased leverage for pivotal positioning of the closure plateSl. The free extremity of the closeure plate 51 terminates at the samelevel as the rib 41 and coacts with the rib 41 as a limiting stop forretraction of the pulley carrier 23 into the tube ill.

Further in accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention,as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, there is provided an improvedinterlocking arrangement for releasably securing the closure plate 51 inclosed position to prevent inadvertant opening and resulting escape ofthe cord from the pulley block assembly. At the juncture of the webportion 4% with the top of the stern of pulley carrier 23 there isformed a downwardly facing channel 53 which projects outwardly towardthe free ext emity of closure plate 51. A complementary upwardly facingchannel 54 is formed on the inner face of the free extremity of closureplate 51 for interlocking coaction with channel 53 as best shown in FIG.2 of the drawings. A head 55 is formed on the inner face of closureplate 51 in spaced vertical relation from the channel 54 and coactsagainst the base of channel 53 to further enhance the interlock betweenchannels 53 and 5 The interlock between the channels 53 and 54 is stillfurther enhanced by the seating of a depending teat 5'6, formed on theinside base of channel 53, in a groove 57 formed in the adjacent edge ofthe short leg of channel 54 A depending projection 53 formed on the head55 coacts against the outer base of channel 53 during closing movementas a cam surface to seat the teat 56 in the groove 57. An additionalinterlock is provided between the closure plate 51 and side wall 45 byforming an arcuate channel so on the inside face of the closure platewhich channel receives and engages the free extremity of side wall 45.The short leg 61 of the channel 69 coacts with the teat 62 formed on theinside face of side wall 42 to prevent the cord from slipping betweenthe pulley 4-8 and either of the side walls 42 or 45. The external faceof the closure plate 51 may be designed in a decorative manner tocomplete the external appearance of the pulley block assembly.

There has thus been provided an improved extensible pulley anchoringassembly having simplified and highly efiicient rotation indexingarrangement and an improved closure for the operating cord access spacein the pulley block assembly.

Other modes of applying the principle of this invention may be employeinstead of those specifically set forth above, changes being made asregards the details herein disclosed provided the elements set forth inany of the following claims, or the equivalent of such be employed.

It is, therefore, particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as theinvention:

1. An extensible pulley anchoring assembly comprising, an aperturedabutment having an inwardly directed flange portion defining an apertureat one end thereof, an elongated pulley carrier extending through theabutment aperture and rotatable therein, resilient means adapted to becompressed between the inserted extremity of the pulley carrier and theflange portion of the abutment to bias the carrier in retracted positionwithin the abutment aperture, means coacting between the carrier andsaid resilient means to cause the resilient means to rotate with thecarrier, rotation indexing guide means for said carrier including aplurality of key-ways axially disposed along the abutment wall and incircumfer ntially spaced relation about the aperture, said resilientmeans having an integral key member selectively extending intoresiliently coacting engagement with said key-ways to releasably securethe pulley carrier in preselected rotated positions.

2. The extensible pulley anchoring assembly of claim 1 wherein saidmeans coacting between the carrier and said resilient means extends fromsaid integral key member and includes a reversely bent return portion ofsaid key member partially encircling and engaging the pulley carrier tocause rotation of said resilient means and extension therewith.

3. The extensible pulley anchoring assembly of claim 1 wherein saidresilient means includes a coiled spring encircling the said inwardlyextended end of the pulley carrier and means coacting at said inwardlyextended end between said carrier and said spring to cause the spring torotate with said carrier.

4. The extensible pulley anchoring assembly of claim 1 wherein saidelongated pulley carrier has its outer extremity reversely bent to formleg portions for rotatably supporting a pulley between the legs thusformed, the reversely extending extremity thereof being spaced from theremainder of the carrier to pass a pulley cord loop onto the pulleyWheel, and a closure pivotally supported on the reversely bent legportion on an axis disposed is spaced parallel relation from the pulleyaxis of rotation and extending across the pulley cord receiving spacethereby to prevent release of the pulley cord from the pulley, zmdinterlocking means releasably coacting between said closure extensionand said carrier to secure the closure in closed position.

5. The extensible pulley anchoring assembly of claim 4 wherein thepivotal support for said closure includes a pin projecting from thereversely extending leg portion of said carrier and having an enlargedextremity adapted to restrain removal of the cover therefrom, andwherein said closure has a pin-receiving aperture with flexible marginaledges for receivin said pin therethrough.

6. An extensible pulley anchoring assembly comprising a tubular memberadapted to be secured at one end to a support, an elongated pulleycarrier extending axially into the other end of the tubular member,resilient means coacting in compression between such other end of thetubular member and the inwardly extended end of the pulley carrier tobias the pulley carrier in retracted position therein, means coactingbetween the carrier and said resilient means to cause the resilientmeans to rotate with the carrier, rotation indexing guide meansincluding a plurality of key-Ways disposed axially and in fixedcircumferentially spaced relation about the inner wall of said tubularmember, said resilient means having an integral key member selectivelyextending into resilient engagement with said keyways to releasablysecure the pulley carrier in preselected rotated positions.

7. A pulley carrier comprising an elongated member adapted to extensiblycoact with an anchoring assembly, one end of said elongated memberhaving a reversely bent portion, a pulley rotatably supported betweensaid elongated members and said reversely bent portion, means forrotatably supporting said pulley, the extremity of said reversely bentportion being spaced from said elongated member to pass a pulley cordloop onto said pulley, a pin projecting from said reversely bent portionadjacent its base and in spaced parallel relation from the pulley axis,a closure pivotally mounted on said pin and adapted to span the cordpassing space in one pivoted position to close said space and preventrelease of the pulley cord therefrom, and means coacting in releasableinterlocking engagement between said elongated member and the extremityof said reversely bent portion to maintain the closure in closedposition.

8. The pulley carrier of claim 7 wherein said interlocking means includecomplementary surfaces on the extremity of said reversely bent portionand on said elon gated member, each of said surfaces having a portionadapted to overhang the other in interlocking relation to restrainseparation in a plane parallel to the pin axis and slidably coactingtransversely to the pin axis to permit separation in the plane ofrotation of the cover.

9. The pulley carrier of claim 8 wherein said complementary surfacesinclude a mating projection and groove respectively adapted to restrainseparation transversely to the pin axis and wherein a cam surface on onecomplementary surface coacts with the other complementary surface duringclosing movement to seat the projection in the groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 90,213Winsor May 18, 1869 611,076 Nies et a1. Sept. 20, 1898 1,173,949Galliland Feb. 29, 1916 1,332,611 Cundari Mar. 2, 1920 1,753,084 KappelApr. 1, 1930 1,955,091 Raney Apr. 17, 1934 2,382,049 Frankhouser Apr.14, 1945 2,650,087 Vaia et al. Apr. 25, 1953 2,830,808 Graber Apr. 15,1958 2,982,539 Cameron et a1. May 2, 1961

1. AN EXTENSIBLE PULLEY ANCHORING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, AN APERTUREDABUTMENT HAVING AN INWARDLY DIRECTED FLANGE PORTION DEFINING AN APERTUREAT ONE END THEREOF, AN ELONGATED PULLEY CARRIER EXTENDING THROUGH THEABUTMENT APERTURE AND ROTATABLE THEREIN, RESILIENT MEANS ADAPTED TO BECOMPRESSED BETWEEN THE INSERTED EXTREMITY OF THE PULLEY CARRIER AND THEFLANGE PORTION OF THE ABUTMENT TO BIAS THE CARRIER IN RETRACTED POSITIONWITHIN THE ABUTMENT APERTURE, MEANS COACTING BETWEEN THE CARRIER ANDSAID RESILIENT MEANS TO CAUSE THE RESILIENT MEANS TO ROTATE WITH THECARRIER, ROTATION INDEXING GUIDE MEANS FOR SAID CARRIER INCLUDING APLURALITY OF KEY-WAYS AXIALLY DISPOSED ALONG THE ABUTMENT WALL AND INCIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED RELATION ABOUT THE APERTURE, SAID RESILIENTMEANS HAVING AN INTEGRAL KEY MEMBER SELECTIVELY EXTENDING INTORESILIENTLY COACTING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID KEY-WAYS TO RELEASABLY SECURETHE PULLEY CARRIER IN PRESELECTED ROTATED POSITIONS.